Second-period mistakes cost Sabres in loss to Leafs

TORONTO -Sam Reinhart set new career-highs for goals and points in a season with a power-play marker early in the second period, but turnovers and defensive lapses proved costly for the Buffalo Sabres in a 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Monday.
The Maple Leafs scored three goals in the span of 5:31 - two from William Nylander and one from Auston Matthews - following Reinhart's goal, which had tied the game at one goal apiece. Nylander and Matthews finished the game with three points each, having both tallied two goals and an assist.

"We didn't manage the puck very well at that point," Sabres coach Phil Housley said. "We get caught in a line change, we turn the puck over and the game gets out of our reach. We talked about this team, they have a terrific rush game and they finish on their opportunities.
"We fed it to them and it was unfortunate. It's not characteristic of the way we played the last game. If you do that, that's the result you get."

The Sabres were coming off a 7-4 win in Nashville on Saturday, a convincing victory over the NHL's top team. They carried that effort into a strong start through five minutes, until a defensive lapse allowed Andrea Johansson to open the scoring with a one-time shot 5:44 into the contest.
Even then, the Sabres rebounded and felt well about their first period, which ended with Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak receiving a double-minor for high-sticking. The ensuing power play carried over through intermission, on which Reinhart would score the game-tying goal.
Matthews answered with a power-play goal less than three minutes later, followed by back-to-back goals from Nylander. The first was made possible by an outlet pass from Matthews, which allowed Nylander to split the defensive pair of Justin Falk and Marco Scandella.
Nylander's second goal stemmed from a 3-on-2 rush for Toronto, which was created by a turnover in the neutral zone.
"I think we gave them too many looks coming through the neutral zone with the puck," Reinhart said. "They're going to make you pay."
Jason Pominville scored another power-play goal to bring the Sabres within two early in the third, but Matthews capped the scoring with his second goal, which once again came with the man advantage. Both of Matthews' two markers were scored on shots from the left faceoff circle.

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson allowed five goals on 36 shots.
"He made a good shot [on the first goal]," Johnson said of Matthews. "He had a lot of time to really pull back and rip it. Second one, he fanned on it. I think I think he was going high and it just kind of rolled off his stick. A lucky one for him, but he's got a really good shot."
The Sabres entered the night with a chance to take the season series with the rival Maple Leafs, who they had beaten just one week earlier. They also had a chance at earning their third-straight road win following the victory in Nashville.
On this night, though, the Maple Leafs played like a team bound for the postseason.
"That's a good team over there, they brought it tonight," Johnson said. "Their skilled players or their best players were their best players. At the end of the day you wish you could, personally, as a team, beat all these top teams all the time and have great numbers, great statistics.
"It's tough beating these guys when they're at their best. There's a reason why they have as many points as they do. We're still finding that consistency in our game."

Career-highs for Reinhart

Reinhart's power-play marker represented his 24th goal and 48th point of the season, both of which are new career-highs. The forward had matched his career-highs in both categories with a hat trick in Nashville on Saturday.
Reinhart has now totaled 35 points (17+18) in his last 35 games dating back to Jan. 18.
"That's what I've got to be for this team," he said. "That's my mindset, that I need to produce on a nightly basis and be consistent. It's unfortunate. I think I had a lot more looks than just the one tonight, so it would have been nice to put a couple more in."
After struggling from a production standpoint in the early going, Reinhart turned his season around with his willingness and ability to score at the net front. His goal on Saturday, a tip of a shot from the point by Rasmus Ristolainen, was yet another example.
"On the power play, he's very deadly in front of the net," Housley said. "He's getting pieces of pucks and he's making plays down low. I think he's been very consistent in his determination to get to the net."

Guhle's absence "precautionary"

Brendan Guhle did not dress for the game and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Housley said. He was replaced in the lineup by Matt Tennyson, who skated 13:54 in his first NHL game since Nov. 4. Tennyson was recalled Monday morning with Nathan Beaulieu sick and Victor Antipin out indefinitely with a concussion.
"He's day-to-day, just being a little cautious," Housley said of Guhle. "I would expect him to play Wednesday though."
Guhle had appeared in 13-straight games since being recalled on March 4. The rookie has scored two assists and averaged 17:43 of ice time in 15 total games for Buffalo this season.

Up next

The Sabres return to KeyBank Center on Wednesday for their final home game of the season, against the Ottawa Senators. It will be Fan Appreciation Night at KeyBank Center, and all fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Dominik Hasek bobblehead. Get your tickets here.

Can't make it downtown? Coverage on MSG-B begins at 7 p.m., or you can listen live on WGR 550. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30.